Donkey Kong Country 2 is a platformer fan's dream. It is also one of the Big N's monkey mascot's best games.
The odd thing about the enjoyment I have gotten out of DKC2 is that it was based almost purely on the gameplay. In fact, the visuals didn't really impress the way I thought they would. Don't get me wrong; the original game on the SNES looked incredible for a 16-bit system, but this version looks a bit saturated, thanks mainly to the much smaller screen. Fortunately, the game is still colorful, and the great, wacky, island style of the series still shines through bright and clear. Environments are very diverse, and while not every level is completely unique to the others, each level feels fresh the first time you look at it.
The sound, on the other hand, is still as masterful as it was back in the 90s. There are voice samples for the enemies, but they aren't as annoying as the ones in the Super Mario Advance remakes. The soundtrack is simply divine. DKC as a series had some of the best tunes in gaming at the time, and the theme songs in DKC2 are probably the best of the bunch. Each song fits the level perfectly, and some are so great you will play the levels just to hear them. That is, if you can bear to stop listening to the incredible overworld theme.
Next, we have gameplay. As much as people call the first DKC one of the most overrated games of all time, none of the praise put on the sequel was undeserved. The controls are pretty smooth in the game; maybe not like Mario controls, but pretty damn close. The gameplay design, however, is arguably better than Mario's. Diddy and Dixie can run, jump on enemies or tumble right through them, climb ropes, scale walls, blast out of barrels, and even throw the other as a dangerous projectile to hit enemies or snag out-of-reach coins. The two kongs act like Mario's mushroom system; you gain access to both of them by jumping through a specific type of barrel, can take an extra hit if you have both, and can access a few more objects in the level if you have both. The gameplay sounds a lot worse in writing, trust me, so don't be turned off if you found my paragraph confusing.
The design is also great and very challenging. First of all, landing on platforms is harder than in Mario games. If the platform is small, you need to hit the center of it. You can't land safely even if only one foot makes it like in Super Mario World or SMB 3, and if you try to inch to the very edge of the platform, Diddy and Dixie will start to lose their balance, preventing you from being able to do anything. Enemies are also tough obstacles, as they have large ranges of hurting you. Plus, they can be found EVERYWHERE. This is the type of platformer where you die several times in each level and have to memorize layouts so that you can reach the point you got to last time and then hopefully get a little farther on your next try. It is maddeningly addictive and difficult, and beginners may be turned off, but for a hardcore sidescroller fan, the levels are a dream come true.
On top of all that, the game also has some fun boss fights, witty dialogue, and a fun story that has just the right king of self-deprecating humor. Overall, DKC2 is a great game, no matter what platform you have it on. It may be hard, but it is hard in a good way. As 2D platformers go, it is also one of the most varied and diverse games ever made. Should you buy Donkey Kong Country 2? Yes, immediately. Will you enjoy yourself? I bet you every banana I've got you will.